Anyone know what might cause chronic (3 years) referred pain in my left scapula (two specific trigger points?

Question

For the past three years I have been (unsuccessfully) trying to manage unrelenting chronic pain in two trigger point areas in my left scapula. I've been diagnosed with a Brachial Neuropathy of the left shoulder with MRI confirming nerve damage to the axillary nerve causing severe muscle atrophy in my left deltoid. After twounsuccessful rotator cuff surgeries in as many years all Doctors and Specialists are perplexed -- much to my dismay, Percocet is the only medicine that helps lessen the pain (Will be switching to Methidone in a week due to the Percocet not working as well. About two weeks ago I finally gave in to the pain (temporarliy I hope) and went out on Short Term Disability.
Sorry if this is sounding like a sad sap story, I'm really a pretty upbeat guy, but it gets tough to handle sometimes especially when hospitals like John's Hopkins (Maryland, USA) can't help me. In short I need to think outside the box here which is why I'm asking the question. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

one of the most common conditions with chronic pain in scapula is Fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia does not show up on Any tests. it is diagnosed by the trigger points. You seem to have all of the symptoms. I've enclosed a link to a web site that has a great deal of information on Fibromyalgia and how to live with it.

If you have any further questions please let me know.
Billie77

Answer 2

Tfhe key here is that you need to learn how to live in chronic pain, adapt your lifestyle, and accept that things aren't going to be like they were before chronic pain. I would say your diagnosis is pretty much the problem, you may have additional problems in your neck, you didn't say how high up the MRI went. I too take Methadone, I've have severe chronic pain for 17yrs now. I have been totally disabled since 2002, partial disability the full seventeen yrs. It was very hard for me to accept that all the really fun stuff I enjoyed, were irriatating my problems in my neck, and that I would need to eliminate those things from my life. I used to be active, and spontanous, take the dares, not anymore. So you adapt...............you say you have two trigger point areas in the shoulder blade area, I too get those damn things, they are freakin' brutal, and the muscle just gets into such a knot, I know what you mean. One thing that really helps me is, my daughter will give me brief massages while we watch t.v., it really helps loosen those cramps, follow with a heating pad. Another is, make a rice sock, get a tube sock, fill with some rice,3 cups should do, tie it off, nuke for 2-3 minutes. Remove, it will be really hot, place a towel between you and the sock so you don't get burnt. Sit back, and let the deep moist heat loosen the muscles, follow with massage, I like best, then back to the heating pad. There are pain support groups, your doctor should be able to offer you some kind of pain management program. Cheer up, at least you are still walking, right? Keep walking, keep as much activity as you can, cuz you are going to lose it, protect yourself now, so you can have more fun later. Good luck.

Answer 3

Much pain is from muscles below is an example of what may help (based on headaches).
Begin with a couple swigs of molasses or a couple of bananas daily - magnesium (which regulates many things in the body) and potassium (a needed building block for muscles).
Drink at least 1/2 gallons of water per day. Running a body low on water is like running a car low on oil is the analogy the head of neurology at UCDavis told my husband about 10 years ago.

Now to the cause - muscles - your back, neck shoulders and head have tender spots. They are knots in the fibers of the muscles called trigger points. It makes the muscles tight which makes them press on nerves and other things causing the pain.

The cure - start with a professional massage, you will also want to go back over any place you can get to 6-12 times per session up to 6 times per day rubbing (or lightly scratching on your head) every where that is tender until the knots go away. The place where the skull connects to the spine press up under the edge of the skull (to get to those muscles).

For more information read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies. It teaches what to do and where the pain comes from.

Answer 4

I have the cure! Really, I do. Best part: it's free.
This works, I tried it! It also helps you to sleep really well. Anyway, trying wont hurt you.
Here's what you have to do:

1. Go outside

2. Go to a patch of dirt, grass, or wet sand. This does not work on concrete or wood or in your house. You have to go to REAL dirt with REAL grass (not the fake kind that looks pretty). It also can not be in a flower pot or anything related. A good thing to do would be to go to the park. Bring your phone or a book, you might be there for a while.

3. Take off your shoes! This does not work of you have shoes on, because of the rubber on the bottom of shoes.

4. Stand or sit on the dirt/wet sand, but MAKE SURE your skin is touching the dirt/sand. This does not work if you are touching it with your clothes, your bare skin must touch the earth. Like, u can lie down on the grass, with your feet or legs touching the dirt, and then just text your friends or read a book, anything you want to pass the time.

5. You should stay touching the dirt/sand for at least 15 minutes. Of course you can move around, just as long as you are still touching the ground to your bare skin.

6. After 15 minutes or longer, you are good to go! You can put on your shoes again and leave.
The next morning, your pains should feel much better! If they don't, you probably didn't do it right.

This technique is called grounding (or earthing), I saw a movie on it and then I told my uncle (who has chronic back pain) to try it. He did, and it really helped him! The next morning his back pain was GONE! I don't have chronic back pain, but I used to have really bad sleep. When I tried this I started sleeping way better! For sleep, however, the effect is not as immediate as for pain. You have to do grounding (or earthing) for a few days or a week before you notice that you sleep better.
Really, you should try this. This is not a joke, it works.

Here, you can also watch this movie on grounding: http://youtu.be/p5M1YOzmgE0

It was made by a man who works for National Geographic.

Answer 5

Have you had an MRI of your neck? It is possible that a disc herniation in the cervical area, or even spurring in the neck vertebrae can cause this!

You might try seeing a Physiatrist, or Physical medicine specialist if not done already. And a Pain Management Program may also be of help---the multidisciplinary kind.

Good luck!

Answer 6

I think there is no treatment with any hospital in the world.
To be frank there is no medicine in this world to treat pain. Pain killers is not the treatment.
Only acupuncture can treat pain. For nerve pain also acupuncture is the way. So go to a master acupuncturist, quack can't do it. Otherwise think visiting us.

Answer 7

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